Support for fluorescent lamp fixtures



June 24, 1947.

U. SCHOCKETT I SUPPORT FOR FLUORESCENT LAMP FIXTURES Filed Oct. 21, 1944 (((IIiflli' INVENTOR. A Y U. SCHocK ETT BY Patented June 24, 1947 SUPPORT FOR FLUORESCENT LAMP FIXTURES Harry U. Schockett, Denver, Colo.

Application October 21, 1944, Serial No. 559,783

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in electric light fixture supports and has reference more particularly to means for supporting a fluorescent fixture from a ceiling.

The use of fluorescent lighting fixtures is quite common and increasing and, as a rule, the majority of such fixtures are supported and supplied with current from a ceiling outlet box.

It is the object of this invention to produce a simplified means for supporting such fluorescent fixtures and which means shall also serve as a canopy for concealing the outlet box.

Fluorescent fixtures are ordinarily connected with ceiling outlet boxes by means of a supporting strap which is frequently referred to as a saddle and this, in turn, must be enclosed in a canopy, Such constructions are somewhat difficult to install and besides, they require both a canopy and a supporting saddle and in addition to this, the canopy must be mounted so that it can be readily moved away and towards the ceiling so as to permit the wires to be properly connected.

It is the principal object of this invention to produce a combined canopy and ceiling saddle which can be quickly and easily connected with the outlet boxand which shall be of such construction that the wires are accessible through an opening in a side wall of the canopy which opening is closed by a box-like cover that can be readily removed and replaced.

Having thus, in a general way, described the invention, and its objects, the invention will now be described in detail, and for this purpose reference will be had to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated in its preferred form, and in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on line ll, Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2--2, Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section, similar to that shown in Figure 1, and shows a construction in which the outlet box is located beneath the ceiling;

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view looking upwardly through planes 4-4, in Figure 1 and 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the canopy bottom showing the construction of the opening walls; and

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6B, Figure 5.

In the drawing reference numeral l0 designates a ceiling which, of course, is of any standard construction, and reference numeral I I designates a ceiling outlet box that is supported in an approved manner, either above the ceiling as shown in Figure l, or below the ceiling as shown in Figure 3. The electric supply Wires have been indicated by reference numeral l2 and enter the box through a conduit I3. The box is provided with an. ordinary crowfoot which has been designated by reference numeral l4 and which may be of any standard construction. A pipe l5 extends downwardly from the crowfoot as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3. Supported from the lower end of pipe I5, by means of a threaded cap I6, is an elongated. combined canopy and support, which has been designated by reference numeral IT. This support has a bottom [8, two inclined sides l9 and end walls 20. The specific shape of the canopy is not material and it can therefore have straight or rounded end walls and the sides may or may not be inclined as is found most desirable for the purpose of ornamentation or use. At least one of the side walls is provided with an opening 2|, and preferably both of the side walls are provided with such openings. The width of the canopy is usually less than the width of the outlet box as indicated most clearly in Figure 1. The bottom of the canopy is provided with a central opening through which the pipe l5 extends and the bottom is also provided with an opening at each end for the reception of the fixture attaching elements or pipes 22. It will be observed that the upper ends of the fixture supporting elements are provided with enlarged heads 23 which fit into and engage with the downwardly tapering walls 24 of the openings.

In Figures 5 and 6 the shape of the opening has been shown to a somewhat larger scale and from this it will be seen that the inner edge of the bottom surrounding the opening is downwardly and inwardly inclined. A tongue 25 is cut from the material and extends a short distance into the opening, as indicated at 26 in Fig ure 5. This tongue is of such length that it will engage the outer surface of the pipe support so as to prevent accidental upward movement of the latter while permitting it to be inserted from above and to be rotated after it has been inserted. Before the canopy is put into position, the supporting elements 22 are inserted through the openings so as to occupy the position shown in Figure 2, The openings 2| in the side walls of the canopy are for the purpose of permitting the wires to be made accessible so as to effect splicing and another use for these openings is to provide a space for the outlet box when the latter is positioned beneath the ceiling as shown in Figure 3. The box-like covers for the openings 2| have been designated by reference numeral 21 and may either be provided with flat sides and slightly rounded corners as shown in Figure 4, or they may be circular. Since the covers 21 are open at the top, the ends, which have been designated by reference numeral 28, can be moved inwardly and these are provided with short tongues 29 that can be inserted through openings 36 in the side walls and allowed to overlap the inner surface of the canopy so as to securely hold the covers in place. When the covers are to be removed, pressure is exerted on the ends 28 until the tongues release whereupon the covers can be removed.

After the canopy has been put in position, the lighting fixture, the body of which alone has been shown and which has been designated by reference numeral 3!, is attached to the canopy. A temporary connection is made by means of short chains or otherwise, which have not been shown. The fixture body is provided with a saddle which has straight portions 3 2 separated by an upwardly offset portion 33, the latter having a threaded opening. for use where a single supporting element is su-ificient. This saddle is secured to the fixture body by means of screws 34 and its ends 35 are offset upwardly in the manner shown in Figure 2. The ends 35 are provided with threaded openings for operative engagement with the threaded sections 36 of the supporting elements 22. The supporting elements can be positioned in threaded engagement with the openings in the ends 35 and rotated into engagement with the threads during the time the fixture is temporarily supported. After a threaded engagement has been effected, the temporary supports are removed and the fixture is longitudinally levelled by rotating the supporting elements 22 until the levelling operationis completed. A canopy 31 is positioned over the supporting elements before the fixture is attached and after the attachment has been effected and the locknuts 38 tightened to hold the parts in adjusted position, the canopy is allowed to move downwardly and rest upon the upper surface of the fixture as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The ballast coil and other fixture elements are connected with the house wiring by means of the wires 39. When the outlet box is positioned underneath the ceiling, it extends into the openings 2! and is hidden by the removable covers 21.

From the above description it will be seen that the canopy H serves a double function, namely, that of a means for effecting a supporting conmotion between the fixture supports 22 and the outlet box and also as a canopy for covering the opening in the ceiling and the outlet box. Since the wall of the canopy is provided with openings 2|, the wiring is accessible while the canopy is in operative position. The wires are, of course, made long enough so that the ends can be brought outside of the canopy during the splicing operation, after which they are pushed back into the canopy and. the opening 2! covered.

Attention is directed also to the fact that the construction illustrated can be used equally well with installations in which the outlet boxes are positioned above the ceiling, as shown in Figure 1, or below the ceiling, as shown in Figure 3. This construction simplifies the installation and reduces the cost because in the old way of supporting the lamp fixture, a canopy is always employed, and besides this, a supporting saddle is used which adds to the expense and complicates the installation.

The invention has been described in connection with a fluorescent lamp fixture but is not limited thereto.

It is evident that an ordinary incandescent lamp fixture can be supported in the same manner.

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A combined fixture support and ceiling canopy for use in suspending an electric light fixture,

comprising a long box, at least one of the elongated sides having an opening through which access may be had to the interior thereof, the bottom of the box having an opening for the reception of a supporting element, a box-like closure positioned on the outside of the canopy, in position to cover the opening, and means comprising tongues projecting from the end walls of the closure and outwardly flared, positioned to engage the walls of an opening to removably secure the closure to the canopy, the interconnections being releasable from the outside by pres- .sure exerted on the end walls of the closure.

2. A combined fixture support and ceiling canopy for use in suspending fluorescent lamp fixtures and the like, comprising an elongated box, at least one of the long sides having anopening through which access may be had to the interior thereof, the wall of the canopy having two small openings on opposite side of the first mentioned opening, the bottom of the box having at least two spaced openings for the reception of fixture attaching elements a box-like closure positioned on the outside of the canopy, in position to cover the opening, and means comprising outwardly flaring tongues projecting from the closure and positioned to enter the small openings for removably attaching the closure to the canopy, the closure being releasable by exerting an inward pressure on the closure adjacent at least one of the tongues.

3. A fixture support for use in adjustably attaching a fluorescent fixture to a ceiling, underneath a ceiling outlet box comprising, an elongated box-1ike canopy having its top open, the bottom having a central opening for the reception of an element extending downwardly from the ceiling outlet box and two spaced holes, one on each side of the central opening, tubular fixture supporting elements extending through the last named holes, means for rotatably interconnecting the fixture supporting elements with the canopy, the lower ends of said last named elements being threaded, an elongated lamp body, and a metal strap attached to the upper surface thereof, the ends of the strap being provided with threaded openings for cooperative engagement with the fixture supporting elements, whereby the lamp body can be tilted by rotating the supporting elements.

HARRY U. SCHOCKETT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,265,021 Beals Dec. 2, 1941 2,348,930 Schepmoes May 16, 1944 2,360,448 Schockett Oct. 17, 1944. 

